US to drop death penalty for British Isis members accused of beheadings

Assurances on Alexanda Kotey and El Shafee Elsheikh dependent on UK handing over evidence

The US has promised not to pursue the death penalty against two British Isis members accused of taking part in the beheadings of western hostages, in return for UK cooperation with the prosecution.

The pledge was given in a letter from the US attorney general, William Barr, to UK home secretary Priti Patel, in the case of Alexanda Kotey and El Shafee Elsheikh, members of the Beatles" group of British Isis members, who were captured by Syrian Kurds and then handed over to US custody in October last year. They are still being held at a US facility overseas.